McDonald’s will spend up to $8.5 billion supporting franchisee upgrades while targeting higher operating margins, stronger restaurant efficiency and global sales growth through its NEXT strategy and the new Make It Golden employee training program.
Trump and Xi may explore AI safety frameworks and an emergency communication channel, but disputes over advanced chips, distillation, verification, and technological leadership leave little prospect that either country will agree to slow development.
Gold remained above $4,330 as falling oil prices eased inflation pressure, but a firmer dollar and hawkish Fed signals capped gains. Conditional Hormuz diplomacy pushed crude lower while unresolved shipping risks preserved defensive demand for bullion.
The Nasdaq reached another intraday record as artificial intelligence shares advanced, but Iran tensions, elevated oil prices, rising Treasury yields and weak market breadth kept broader investor enthusiasm firmly in check.
Leading AI executives are expected before the U.N. Security Council as warnings over advanced models collide with Trump’s growth focused stance and a string of disclosures involving autonomous hacking, cyber incidents and other concerning behavior.
Xi Jinping’s state visit is approaching, but Beijing has not named the Chinese executives accompanying him. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is expected at Thursday’s dinner, while representatives from several prominent Chinese companies reportedly remain under consideration.
Binance is taking a $100 million stake in Circle while promoting USDC to its global users, giving the stablecoin issuer a major distribution channel as it challenges Tether’s commanding international position.
McDonald’s faces skeptical investors after U.S. traffic declined, same store sales rose just 0.8%, and shares fell 18%. Management is expected to detail plans covering value, menu improvements, beverages, restaurant renovations and tighter spending.
Bitcoin held near $86,000 as ETF demand, forced buying, and a technical breakout strengthened analysts' conviction that crypto winter has ended, although the market remains about 30% below its October record valuation.
Susan Collins backed the Federal Reserve’s unanimous quarter percentage point rate increase, warning that inflation could remain notably above 2% as updated projections pointed to another increase this year and possible further tightening in 2027.
Intel shares gained 25% in five days as demand for CPUs rose alongside agentic AI, while reported manufacturing interest from Google, Nvidia, and SK Hynix added weight to the chipmaker’s broader push to regain semiconductor leadership.
Gold remained above $4,300 as geopolitical risks provided support, but firm Treasury yields, a stronger dollar and expectations for another Federal Reserve increase continued to block a decisive breakout. Oil’s retreat softened the immediate inflation threat.
Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Skydance shares jumped as settlement discussions advanced over the $111 billion acquisition, with proposed terms requiring 30 theatrical releases annually and imposing steep penalties when the combined company falls short.
MS NOW, CNN and Politico plan to seek emergency federal relief restoring White House access, arguing Trump revoked press credentials without notice and retaliated against protected reporting, while the president says he is targeting what he calls fake news.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has gained unusual influence with President Donald Trump, shaping the administration’s approach to AI safety even as major model developers, researchers and lawmakers demand slower development and stronger government oversight.
Scott Bessent rejected federal liability protection for AI developers while outlining talks with China, defending a Treasury buyback and predicting interest rates will fall after the Iran war ends.